Quote of the Day

“There is nothing here to teach that a man can be saved, then lost, then saved again. Such a thing is taught nowhere in the Scriptures. There is only one reason why people ever teach anything like that and that is that they forget the doctrine of regeneration. They put so much emphasis on a man’s decision.”

-Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Romans – To God’s Glory)

Quote of the Day

“A Christian is the result of the operation of God, nothing less, nothing else. No man can make himself a Christian; God alone makes Christians… A Christian is one who has been created anew; and there is only One who can create, namely, God. It takes the power of God to make a Christian.”

– Martyn Lloyd-Jones

How Do You Discern the Conversion of a Child?

From Brian Croft at Practical Shepherding:

There are commonly 2 extremes as we all wrestle with this question. The first is the careless lack of discernment of many churches who have an alter call for 4-5 year olds, ask them to raise their hand if they love Jesus, then baptize them as converted followers of Jesus. The other extreme often results from the carelessness of the first.

This extreme prevents both parents and pastors to be willing to affirm whether or not a child is truly converted until they are adults and are completely independent of their parent’s authority and care. I believe a middle ground must be approached if we truly desire to discern clear biblical evidence that a child, teenager, or young adult has become a new creature in Christ.

Knowing we are not God and cannot see the heart, I believe there are still evidences we can see and know to help us discern a child or teenager’s conversion in a similar way we try to do the same with adults. In the spirit of Jonathan Edward’s 5 signs of true conversion, here are 5 evidences that I try to use as a template as both a parent and pastor in wrestling with this issue.

1) A growing affection and need for Jesus and the gospel.

2) A heightened understanding of the truths of Scripture.

3) An increased kindness and selflessness towards siblings.

4) A greater awareness and distaste for sin.

5) A noticeable desire to obey parents.

In my experience as both a parent and a pastor, I have found that age is not the most important gauge to determine true conversion, but to genuinely look for these evidences in an age appropriate manner. For example, we need to know that a child has a clear understanding of the gospel. However, that will be articulated by a 10 year old differently than it should a 16 year old. A desire to obey parents and a selfless spirit towards siblings will also show up differently in a 10 year old than they will in a 16 year old.

Nevertheless, they must be present in some way and I would strongly discourage any pastor or parent to affirm a child’s conversion without some kind of tangible evidence apart from their verbal profession. On the flip side, I would also caution you from falling into the trap I have in the past in regard to demanding more from a child than can be observed.

This is tricky ground I realize. So much as a pastor must be approached on a case by case basis. Many of us will be all around the spectrum, but the one takeaway from this post is be mindful to avoid the extremes that do exist on both sides. Find I nice seat in the shade somewhere in the middle as a starting point. Then, be wise, assess honestly, and pray that the merciful God who does regenerate adults, teenagers, and even children give you much discernment.

Mercy

Mercy is God withholding the just punishment of sin from those who deserve it. While grace lavishes on; mercy puts off, or holds back. God’s mercy is propelled into motion by His love:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us (Eph 2:4).

The love of God—His goodness in action—moves Him to not give us what we deserve. This mercy, not our goodness or works, is what leads to our regeneration, salvation, and justification:

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7), and causes the new birth: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of JesusChrist from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3).

The Apostle Paul put himself forward as an illustration of one who was rescued from spiritual blindness and the tragic consequences of unbelief by the mercy of God and for the glory of God.

“And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Tim 1:16);

“…even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Tim 1:13).

The conversion of any sinner is sheer mercy.

Quote of the Day

“Why do you “thank” God for your conversion? It is because you know in your heart that God was entirely responsible for it. You do not attribute your repenting and believing to your own wisdom, or prudence, or sound judgment, or good sense.”

– J.I. Packer

Quote of the Day

“Without conversion of heart we cannot serve God on earth. We have naturally neither faith, nor fear, nor love, toward God and His Son Jesus Christ. We have no delight in His Word. We take no pleasure in prayer or communion with Him. We have no enjoyment in His ordinances, His house, His people, or His day. We may have a form of Christianity, and keep up a round of ceremonies and religious performances. But without conversion we have no more heart in our religion than a brick or a stone. Can a dead corpse serve God? We know it cannot. Well, without conversion we are dead toward God.”

– J.C. Ryle